On a recent afternoon in the busy commercial district of Metro Manila, a parade of 50 jeepneys debuted their new skins.

Portraying vivid scenes and pictures in brightly painted, audacious hues, they were a stark contrast to what’s been seen on the streets of late — bare metal carriages, a symptom of budget constraints and economic hardships that, out of necessity, slowly came to replace the old, colorfully decorated jeepneys famed around the world.